HOW TO GET TOURIST VISA FOR THAILAND.

One of the initial tasks at hand, before you start enjoying your vacation is to obtain a visa. As an Indian you have an option to obtain Visa on Arrival or apply for a tourist visa in advance in India.I was initially planning to apply for visa on arrival (just to avoid going to VFS-Bangalore to apply for my visa and collect it back), but the impromptu increase in visa on arrival fees from 1000 THB t0 2000 THB , made me rethink my decision. I am glad i changed my plans and applied for a visa in Bangalore, not only did it cost me less but it was a fairly a simple procedure, and i was saved from standing in those long queues at the airport for visa on arrival procedure.

This process can be hassle free if you follow the below procedure

VISA FOR THAILAND: This can be done in 2 way

 a. Visa on Arrival: A fairly simple procedure:
-Ones you land in Thailand, fill out the application form, attach the necessary documents and submit it to the Visa on Arrival office at the airport along with 2000 THB to get your 30 days visa into Thailand.
– Documents required:
1. To and Fro flight ticket from Thailand that spans for less than 15 days.
2. A passport with minimum validity of 30 days.
3. One passport size photo.
4. Your hotel booking voucher in Thailand.
5. Visa application form duly filled and signed.
6. Boarding pass of your onward flight.
7. Visa on Arrival fee of 2,000 THB (roughly 4000 Rs in INR which is double the cost you would pay if applied in India advance for 1000 THB)to be paid in Thai currency only. (*Visa on arrival fee will be 1000 THB between December 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017)
8. Thai or other currency or ATM/debit card with bank balance equivalent t0  10,000 Thai Baht per person or 20,000 Thai Baht per family.

 b. Apply in advance in India: I applied for visa from the VFS Bangalore location that is located at Shivajinagar. It was a fairly easy process and absolutely no crowd. We were the first in line and i couldnt find anyone coming in to apply for the visa after me. I just wonder why do people apply for visa on arrival for an exorbitant price, if the same can be done in Bangalore in a couple of hours.
– VFS office in Bangalore is open from 8am-5pm from Mon-Fri. Ones the application is submitted and accepted by the VFS, you will receive your stamped  passport in 5 working days. You can either decide to go and collect it yourself or  you can authorize someone else to collect it on your behalf or you can choose their courier service to dispatch your passport via courier for a price of 205 INR.
– DD of 2000 INR should be made in the name of “The Royal Thai Consulate General” payable at XYZ depending on where you are applying: Chennai, Delhi or Kolkata.
– Please check the VFS Thailand site to confirm if your city has a VFS office.
– Documents required:
1. To and Fro flight ticket from Thailand.
2. A passport with minimum validity of 6 months.
3. Two passport size photo.
4. Your hotel booking voucher in Thailand.
5. Two visa application form duly filled and signed.
6. DD of INR 2000 in favor of “The Royal Thai Consulate General” payable at XYZ depending on where you are applying: Chennai, Delhi or Kolkata. (*Visa fee will be 0 between December 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017).
7. Bank Statement of past 6 months which shows sufficient funds.
8.  Visa can be applied in groups too (a group can contain folks equal or greater than 2). For a group, a cover letter should be provided that will state the number of people travelling with you along with details of their passport. This will be necessary when the hotel stay is booked under one individuals name but is going to be utilized by multiple folks. Also greater the group lesser the VFS service charge.
5. Ones the application is accepted, it takes 5 working days for the visa stamping, that usually happens and in Chennai. You can track your application online and ones it is received in Bangalore collect it anytime you want (b/w 8am-5pm).
– This visa will have a validity of 3 months, i.e. you should enter Thailand within the next 3 months (kindly note, you need to enter Thailand before the last date of the 3 month validity, but you can exit Thailand after the 3 months validity date).
– This tourist visa will allow you to be in Thailand for a span of 60 days (whereas Visa on Arrival will allow only 15 days of visitation).

For the Visa Application Center timings and contact numbers follow this link:

For North India: Applications submitted in New Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur and Chandigarh

http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/Delhi/contact_us.html

For South India: Applications submitted in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Cochin
http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/Chennai/contact_us.html

For East India: Applications submitted in Kolkata
http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/Kolkata/contact_us.html

Update: In Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Thai Visa Application process is outsourced to CKGS Thai Visa Application Centre.

For details refer: http://www.thaiembassy.org/mumbai/en/services/17326-Visa-&-Application-Centres.html

Thailand Visa Form (for South India): click here
Checklist : click here

Note:
Sometimes when you are touring SE Asia, or hoping into Cambodia for a week from Thailand you might have to apply for multiple entry visa to Thailand if you plan on entering Thailand more than ones. Like in our case, we were touring Thailand and Cambodia and our to and fro flight to India was from Thailand, which means after touring Cambodia we had to reenter Thailand. Problem with a Single entry visa is that ones you exit Thailand towards Cambodia your Single entry tourist visa is stamped out and if you plan on re entering Thailand you will either have to apply for a fresh Visa on Arrival for 2000 THB or apply initially for a multiple entry visa for a cost of 10000 INR (which seems exorbitant). Under such a circumstance, to avoid paying unnecessary money one can choose to apply for a re-entry permit at one of the Thai borders or Thai airports if one plans to re enter Thailand within the 60 days (for visa applied in India) or  15 days (for visa on arrival) of visa validity time frame. For more information read here.

For more information refer these links:
1. http://www.solobackpacker.com/2012/03/29/thailand-visa-for-indian-citizens/
2. http://www.desiyatri.com/2012/04/bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport-visa-on.html

Bon Voyage.